Communities face historic opportunity

Three neighborhoods think about changing status

St. Augustine officials asked three of its senior neighborhoods -- North City, Nelmar Terrace and Fullerwood Park -- if they wanted to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

And if they wanted to create their own Overlay Zoning District to control their own growth.

John Regan, the city's chief operating officer, said the residents certainly were interested in both.

"The meeting was very positive. We have some stuff to think about and work on," Regan said after the meeting Wednesday. "One common theme was that people want to design an urban fabric for the most neighborliness."

He moderated a special meeting at City Hall Wednesday that drew about 150 residents of those neighborhoods.

Historic designation took center stage first.

Regan said, "This is an opportunity for the public to learn about the (historic district) nomination process, to make some initial comments and be prepared to go to a public hearing before the (Historic Architectural Review Board) and the City Commission."

He said the emphasis of this City Commission is participatory government by residents.

Tom Schofield, the city's historic preservation planner, said the National Register was created in 1966 to recognize historic properties. There are 1,317 buildings on the National Register in St. Augustine already, he said.

"Designation does not add any additional layer of regulation," Schofield said.

Three neighborhoods now designated as historic districts are the Model Land Company with 245 buildings, the Abbot Tract with 137 buildings and Lincolnville with 541. That does not count the 394 in the city's Historic Preservation Zoning District downtown, which has strict controls over colors, styles and fixtures.

The effects of overlay districts were then explained.

Planning Manager David Birchim said they were "rules that direct a neighborhood's development."

This means the neighborhood can make the zoning rules that apply to it more or less stringent, depending on what the residents want to accent or diminish.

"They can even do away with the recent Density Stabilization Ordinance if they want to," Birchim said. "Or they could increase lot coverage size. The rules could apply only to certain type houses or to everybody."

Regan said the city will provide the mechanism for either decision by the residents. The next step is to draw up a common theme for each neighborhood.

"Our only goal is do overlay zoning as driven by residents," he said. "We may find that people want to opt out. If they don't want it, it doesn't happen."